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Adaptable night camouflage by cuttlefish.

Roger T Hanlon1, Marie-José Naud, John W Forsythe

  • 1Marine Resources Center, Marine Biological Laboratory, Woods Hole, Massachusetts 02543, USA. rhanlon@mbl.edu

The American Naturalist
|April 12, 2007
PubMed
Summary
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Giant Australian cuttlefish use camouflage at night, not just during the day. This study reveals that 86% of cuttlefish displayed camouflage patterns after dusk, suggesting nocturnal predators drive this behavior.

Area of Science:

  • Marine Biology
  • Animal Behavior
  • Camouflage

Background:

  • Cephalopods are known for dynamic camouflage in shallow waters.
  • Previous research has not documented nocturnal camouflage use in cephalopods.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate whether cephalopods utilize camouflage at night.
  • To document the types and prevalence of camouflage in Sepia apama after dark.

Main Methods:

  • Remotely operated vehicle (ROV) surveys with red light.
  • 16 transects conducted on Sepia apama spawning grounds in southern Australia.
  • Observation and documentation of cuttlefish body patterns at dusk and night.

Main Results:

  • Cuttlefish ceased reproductive behaviors at dusk and adopted camouflage.

Related Experiment Videos

  • Nocturnal camouflage prevalence was 86% (71 of 83 individuals).
  • Observed patterns included uniform, mottled, and disruptive coloration.

    • Conclusions:

    • Cephalopods, specifically Sepia apama, actively use camouflage at night.
    • Nocturnal visual predators likely exert selective pressure for this behavior.
    • Dynamic camouflage is crucial for survival in both diurnal and nocturnal environments.